Pakistan eye series win over N. Zealand

 Updated at: 1225 PST,  Thursday, January 13, 2011
WELLINGTON: Pakistan will set aside off-field controversies to chase their first series win for four years when the second Test begins in Wellington on Saturday, as hosts New Zealand struggle for form.

Unable to hold international matches at home due to security concerns and beset by corruption allegations, Pakistan have not won a Test series since defeating the West Indies in early 2007.

But after crushing the Black Caps by 10 wickets in the first Test, the tourists are in prime position to go 2-0 up and record a clean sweep in the two-match series.

Coach Waqar Younis paid tribute to his players for maintaining their focus on the pitch as team-mates Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer faced corruption hearings in Doha.

"It's not that we've been playing bad cricket, it's just that the controversy has just been following us," he said.

"It's very, very hard for the boys to keep going and keep hearing this but I'm very proud of these boys, they've stuck to the task and every morning they get up and keep positive."

Butt, Asif and Aamer are set to learn their fate when an anti-corruption tribunal into spot-fixing allegations resumes hearings on February 5.

New Zealand coach John Wright has labelled as "unacceptable" the Black Caps' performance in his first Test in charge in Hamilton, when the batting line-up was dismissed for a paltry second innings total of 110.

Critics, including former Test opener Mark Richardson, expressed concern that the focus on Twenty20 had turned New Zealand's batsmen into one-dimensional players prone to wild shots and poor decision making.

Skipper Daniel Vettori denied the accusation in the wake of the Hamilton loss but Wright later conceded the emphasis on short-form cricket could be a factor behind the batting failure.

"The talent's there but we've really got a bit of teaching to do," he told Radio Sport.

"I think the reality is that if you look at learning to bat, particularly in a Test match, we've probably been more exposed in other forms of the game."

Wright, a former Test batsman known for grinding out an innings, said his players should be desperate to occupy the crease and not give their wickets away cheaply.

Vice-captain Ross Taylor said New Zealand's batsmen "need to have a good look at themselves, myself included", suggesting Wright's passion for Test cricket made him a good role model.

"The way that John coaches and the way he comes across, he's very big on Test cricket," Taylor said.

"He had a very successful Test career for New Zealand and he was a very hard player, so hopefully that can rub off on us."

The Test series has been reduced to two matches, down from the customary three, to allow for an extended six-match one day series, which will provide a warm-up for next month's World Cup in India.

Test squads:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Reece Young, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin, James Franklin, Daryl Tuffey.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz.

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Pakistan disappointed at decision delay

 Updated at: 2152 PST,  Tuesday, January 13, 2011
 KARACHI: Former Pakistan players and fans on Tuesday expressed their disappointment after an anti-corruption tribunal against three cricketers ended in Doha without a decision.

The tribunal hearing allegations against Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer decided to continue its deliberations and hold a further hearing in Doha on February 5.

Pakistani media reported on Tuesday that Aamer's lawyer, Shahid Karim, had asked the tribunal headed by Michael Beloff to defer announcing its verdict.

Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas criticised the delay in the decision.

"It's absurd," Abbas said. "The International Cricket Council (ICC) has kept the players hostage for the last five months and now they have deferred the decision, which is inexplicable."

Abbas said the three key players cannot participate in the World Cup, to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19 to April 2.

All 14 competing countries have to announce their final 15-man squad by January 19.

"Because the players will continue to remain suspended they cannot play at any level, cannot practice so they are virtually out of the World Cup," said Abbas.

Another former captain Asif Iqbal was also surprised at the delay.

"The ICC has taken so much time on this case and have spent so much money on it and yet could not take a decision... it is strange," said Iqbal.

"I am surprised at the delay."

Former spin bowler Iqbal Qasim, however, backed the decision.

"Since it is a high-profile case, so any judgment needed to be properly gauged and legal opinion is also required and that's why they have delayed the decision," said Qasim.

Fans also criticised the delay.

"It's a conspiracy from the beginning, they want our key players out of the World Cup," said Haris Hussain, who heard the news on television in downtown Karachi.

"Pakistan will badly miss these three players and it would have been better had a decision announced."

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Team for NZ ODI series named, Afridi retained as captain

 Updated at: 1718 PST,  Wednesday, January 12, 2011
LAHORE: Allrounder Shahid Afridi has been retained as captain of the Pakistan cricket team while batsman Misbah-ul-Haq has been made his deputy for the upcoming six-match One-day International series in New Zealand.

The selection committee kept Afridi on as captain in the finalised the 16-man squad, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) release said.

The squad for the World Cup is likely to be announced later for which the International Cricket Council (ICC) has set a deadline of January 19.

Veteran batsman Mohammad Yousuf was left out, raising fears the 36-year-old will not make the final World Cup squad.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who was cleared by the PCB for selection after he too fell under the spotlight of the investigation into spot-fixing, was restored to the side for the New Zealand series.

Kamran has not been selected since the tour of England which ended in September last year and was marred by spot-fixing allegations which led to the suspensions of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer.

Former captain Shoaib Malik and Fawad Alam were overlooked.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanveer, Tanveer Ahmed, Ahmed Shahzad.

The six-match one-day series, which starts in Wellington on January 22, will be Pakistan's last before the World Cup which is to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19 to April 2.

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Pakistan dominate second session

Updated at: 0842 PST,  Friday, January 07, 2011
HAMILTON: Pakistan took four wickets to claim the honours in the second session as New Zealand went to tea on the opening day of the first cricket Test at 160 for five.

New Zealand added only 82 runs in the two hours of play as Abdur Rehman put the brakes on the scoring with a miserly spell of spin bowling to give him two for 32 off 16 overs.

While the session belonged to Pakistan, their efforts were helped by the manner in which the New Zealand batsmen gave their wickets away.

Rehman's victims included Martin Guptill who had toiled away for nearly four hours to make 50 before receiving a full toss four balls before tea.

It was a delivery that could have been dispatched to any boundary but instead Guptill patted an easy catch to Misbah-ul-Haq in the covers.

Umar Gul took the prized wicket of Brendon McCullum when the New Zealand opener resumed after lunch in an aggressive frame of mind following a cautious start to the match.

With the first ball he faced after the break McCullum drove Gul for six and with the first ball of his next over he pulled him over the mid-wicket boundary.

But when the former Test wicketkeeper, who now wants to focus on his batting career, went for a third boundary he directed the ball straight to Azhar Ali to be out for 56.

Ross Taylor survived a comical run out attempt when Wahab Riaz collected the ball a metre from the stumps and managed to hit his own ankle as he tried to throw the ball.

But it was a short-lived reprieve for Taylor who broke Rehman's run of five consecutive maidens with a four but was caught behind on the next ball by Adnan Akmal for six.

Jesse Ryder reached 22 and was looking to solidify the New Zealand innings when he was trapped backing up too far to a straight drive from Guptill which Riaz deflected on to the stumps.

The not out batsmen were Kane Williamson on 12 and Reece Young, making his Test debut, on two.

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McCullum leads cautious start for New Zealand

Updated at: 0634 PST,  Friday, January 07, 2011
HAMILTON: Brendon McCullum steered New Zealand to a cautious 78 for one at lunch on the opening day of the first cricket Test against Pakistan at Seddon Park here Friday.

McCullum was on 42 with Martin Guptill on 29 after Pakistan won the toss and put New Zealand into bat under overcast skies that offered the bowlers some movement.

However, the cloud cover proved only temporary and towards the end of the two-hour session the bowlers were getting little assistance.

Although the attack lacked sting, it was an uncharacteristically restrained innings from McCullum, despite his 42 including seven boundaries, as New Zealand looked to consolidate after the early dismissal of Tim McIntosh for five.

McIntosh, who was not required for the Twenty20 internationals in recent weeks, looked out of touch and only faced six balls before he prodded at a delivery from Tanvir Ahmed and edged the ball to Younis Khan at second slip.

McCullum also lacked conviction early on and kept the slip cordon interested but luck was on his side.

He survived a run out appeal on nine and appeared to have been caught behind by Adnan Akmal off Wahab Riaz when on 34 but the appeal was rejected by umpire Rob Tucker.

Tanvir Ahmed, the only successful wicket-taker, was one for 20 off seven overs while the more economic Wahab Riaz was none for 15 off seven.

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Pak win toss, bowl against N. Zealand

Updated at: 0402 PST,  Friday, January 07, 2011
HAMILTON: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bowl first under cloudy skies in the first cricket Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton Friday.

"There is a bit of grass, especially on one side of the wicket, and the forecast today is for overcast and so we will bowl first," he said.

Despite the atmospheric conditions and the suggestion the ball will swing on a green wicket, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori had no regrets about the outcome of the toss. "We had a feeling we would bat first, no matter what he said."

Although Pakistan are without frontline players Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, who are appearing before an Independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing in Doha, Qatar, Misbah insisted his side was focused on the Test.

"That's a separate issue," he said when asked about the hearing in Doha. "We are focused here on cricket, we have nothing to do with what's happening there."

Pakistan are ranked sixth in the world, two places higher than New Zealand, and drew both Tests against South Africa in their most recent series last November.

The same month, New Zealand drew two Tests against India before being beaten in the third Test.

Teams: New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Reece Young, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin; James Franklin (12th man).

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Adnan Akmal, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed, Wahab Riaz; Umar Akmal (12th man).

Umpires: Daryl Harper (AUS), Rod Tucker (AUS)
Third umpire: Gary Baxter (NZL)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

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My life at risk in Pak: Zulqarnain

LONDON: Pakistan wicket keeper Zulqarnain Haider Thursday said his life is still at risk in Pakistan and the government is unable to provide necessary protection to him, Geo News reported.

He maintained his stance while giving interview to British interior ministry officials in connection with his application for seeking political asylum in UK.

Zulqarnain Haider alleged that corruption is rampant in Pakistan  Cricket

“The government of Pakistan failed to provide security to people like Benazir Bhutto and Salman Taseer,” he said, adding, the government was unable to provide necessary protection to him.

Sources said that Zulqarnain Haider was asked 80 questions during the interview.

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Pakistan trio face judgement day

DOHA: A make-or-break anti-corruption tribunal against Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer opens in Doha Thursday with the players facing lengthy bans if found guilty. The hearing will be held behind closed doors at the Qatar Financial Centre from 0630 GMT and is scheduled to run until January 11, although lawyers have indicated a verdict may come earlier. The three face charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan's tour of England last year in a scandal that rocked the sport. It is alleged that they conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls -- claims they all deny. They were provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in September, with the world governing body's code of conduct carrying a minimum five-year ban if corruption charges are proved. The maximum punishment is life out of the game. The scandal came to light when Britain's News of the World claimed that seven Pakistani players, including Butt, Aamer and Asif, took money from bookie Mazhar Majeed to obey orders at specific stages in the Lord's Test in August. Scotland Yard detectives raided the team hotel in London, reportedly confiscating a huge amount of money from Salman's room. The three-man independent hearing is being led by code of conduct commissioner and leading lawyer Michael Beloff of England, aided by Justice Albie Sachs from South Africa and Kenyan Sharad Rao. It is set to open with a statement from the prosecution followed by a response from representatives of the three players. All three have serious legal heavyweights going in to bat for them with paceman Asif, 28, represented by Allan Cameron, brother of British Prime Minister David Cameron. Former Test captain and opening batsman Salman, 26, is represented by British-based lawyer Yasin Patel, while 18-year-old fast bowler Aamer's legal team is headed by Shahid Karim from Pakistan. British newspapers said Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi and head coach Waqar Younis have been summoned as prosecution witnesses. While the ICC has made clear it will not be commenting until a verdict is reached, chief executive Haroon Lorgat told the BBC recently he was confident of the case against the players. "We need to send out a strong message and that is part of what we want to achieve," Lorgat said. "We've worked hard at collecting all the evidence that we would require to make the charges stand." The Pakistan team are currently touring New Zealand, but speaking ahead of the hearing, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt told reporters that corruption was a curse that must be stamped out. "It has to be an all-out effort from all concerned to ensure that such wrongdoing does not occur in the future and we at the PCB are doing all we can to curtail all such practices," he said. "The PCB and ICC have taken a lot of steps, future plans have been drafted to pursue a policy of zero tolerance to corruption." The scandal is seen as the worst in cricket since that of South Africa's Hansie Cronje. A decade ago the former South Africa captain, who died in a mysterious plane crash in 2002, was revealed to have accepted money from bookmakers in a bid to influence the course of games as well as trying to corrupt his team-mates.

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Pakistan spot-fixing trio could discover fates by next Tuesday

• Tribunal chaired by Michael Beloff QC begins today
• Chairman hopeful of early resolution in Qatar hearing
The Pakistan cricketers at the centre of last year's spot-fixing allegations could find out their fates by next Tuesday. The chairman of the independent tribunal that will decide the fate of Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt said today that he hoped for a quick decision.
The three players, who face a range of charges under the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption code, will appear before the three-person tribunal as part of a six-day hearing that begins tomorrow in Doha, Qatar.
Chaired by Michael Beloff QC, it will seek to reach a definitive verdict on the allegations of spot fixing during the fourth Test at Lord's that blighted Pakistan's tour of England last summer after they were revealed by the News of the World.
After they were accused of conspiring to deliberately bowl no balls at specific points of the match, all three were provisionally suspended by the ICC.
Butt and Amir failed in October in a bid to get the provisional suspension lifted, while Butt also failed in a subsequent attempt to have the hearing postponed.
"The parties have helpfully exchanged detailed submissions in advance of the hearing to seek to identify the issues that are in dispute in these proceedings," Beloff said today
"The procedure for the hearing, it has been agreed by all parties and approved by me. It is designed to ensure that all parties can be satisfied that they have been given a full and fair opportunity to present their evidence and advance their submissions."
The ICC, which has been gathering evidence since formally charging the three on 2 September last year, will make opening statements, presenting its case against each player in turn. It will then present its evidence, including witnesses who will appear in person and via telephone, each of whom will also be cross-examined by lawyers for the players and members of the tribunal.
The players will then present their defences, submitting their own evidence and witnesses. Beloff did not guarantee to come to a decision by next Tuesday, the last scheduled day of the hearing, but said he would do so if practicable.
All three players, who have protested their innocence, face the prospect of lengthy bans if found guilty.
The ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, said last month that the ICC had "worked hard at collecting all the evidence that we would require to make the charges stand".
Of the potential punishments, he said: "We would want to be proportional but at the same time we do not want to show any leniency. These are severe issues and integrity of the game is absolutely fundamental and we would not want to tolerate any of that in the sport."
The tribunal will go ahead despite the fact that the Crown Prosecution Service has yet to reach a decision on whether to press charges against the three men under English law, although it has now received a full file of evidence from the police.
"The CPS special crime division is reviewing a file of evidence in relation to allegations of match-fixing by Pakistani cricketers," a spokesman said. "We are not awaiting any further substantial evidence from the police at this time and will make a decision in due course."

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Afridi is not a leader

LAHORE: Pakistan’s limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi has come under heavy fire from the country’s former players who questioned his leadership ability in the wake of the team’s recent Twenty20 series-loss in New Zealand.
Following Pakistan’s 2-1 loss – the final-game win halting a series of six consecutive Twenty20 defeats – former players have urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to rethink their decision of making him the captain for the World Cup that starts next month.
“He was given enough time to prove his ability as captain,” former captain Aamir Sohail told The Express Tribune. “What I see is that he’s not a leader as the captain must have sense of the game and know how to improvise. Every time Pakistan lose, he comes up with a different story.”
Since Afridi’s appointment, Pakistan’s performance has remained poor despite having beaten Australia in a two-match Twenty20 series in England. Pakistan failed to make it to the final of the Asia Cup, lost the Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) series against England and South Africa before losing to New Zealand as well.
Sohail also lashed out at Afridi’s retirement from Test cricket after just one game into his comeback. “He was even tested in the longer format of the game earlier but it was a disastrous experiment for the board. They should understand his role in the side as he doesn’t even have a guaranteed spot ion the side as a batsman and isn’t a useful bowler any more.
“The PCB has ample time to change ahead of the World Cup and I see Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq as good options to replace Afridi in the ODIs.”
Advice for the captain
Former wicket-keeper Moin Khan has urged Afridi to stop criticising his own players in public.
“A captain should refrain from criticising his players in public because it can affect the team spirit,” said Moin. “Afridi is a very experienced player and should be aware of it.”
Despite his indifferent form, Afridi has not been short of excuses for his team’s poor performance, lashing out at team members in public.
Another former captain Wasim Akram felt that Afridi’s leadership in the ongoing New Zealand tour has not been up to the mark.
“One saw a lack of leadership in the team and the players also did not play to their ability and if they continue playing this way then they will also lose the Test and ODI series in New Zealand,” said Akram.
Tour match today
Pakistan will go into their only warm-up match before the first Test hoping for an improved performance after a 2-1 Twenty20 series loss in which batsmen failed to live up to expectations except in the inconsequential last match.
The three-day match against New Zealand XI will also allow Pakistan to field players from the Test squad – including captain Misbahul Haq – who arrived on the eve of the final Twenty20. Adnan Akmal, Taufeeq Umar, Khurram Manzoor and Azhar Ali will also get a chance to make their first appearance on the tour and press for places in the playing eleven for the first Test.
The first Test of the two-match series starts in Hamilton from Friday. Pakistan come on the back of drawing a two-match series against number two-ranked South Africa in the UAE.

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Pakistan battle out a draw

The touring Pakistanis were made to look second best in their only warm-up match before the first Test as they conceded a 97-run first-innings lead but managed to draw against the New Zealand Cricket XI.
The tourists looked on-course for a poor total before Test captain Misbahul Haq rescued his side with an unbeaten 126 while other batsmen fell around him. The captain, who has scored three half-centuries in his last three Tests, owed much to the tail as well, which wagged when the team needed it to as the last four wickets added 139. The last-wicket stand between Misbah and fast-bowler Tanvir Ahmed yielded 51 runs as Pakistan aimed for damage control following its top-order failure.
The Pakistanis got early breakthroughs in the second-innings as they reduced the hosts to 25 for two, with first-innings’ double centurion Brendon McCullum falling for a 15-ball 18.

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Ajmal to miss opening New Zealand Test

KARACHI: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will miss the first Test against New Zealand after returning home to attend the funeral of his father.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that necessary arrangements had been made to facilitate Ajmal’s return after his father died on Tuesday.
“He is devastated by the sudden death of his father who expired after being taken to hospital complaining of fever in the cold weather,” said a board official.
PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad offered their condolences, while the board’s spokesman said, “The entire PCB family express their deepest sympathies to Ajmal on this sad occasion. May the soul of the departed rest in eternal peace.”
Ajmal, one of Pakistan’s main spinners in the last two years, was a certain selection for the first Test tomorrow. The PCB also said it would announce the squad for the one-day series next week.

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Afridi rejects criticism, wants support ahead of World Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan Twenty20 and One-Day International (ODI) captain Shahid Afridi has asked for support ahead of the World Cup and said that criticism before the global event will discourage the young team. Following the recent Twenty20 series loss to New Zealand – the third consecutive series defeat after England and South Africa won 2-0 – former players lashed out at Afridi and questioned his leadership skills.

I don’t want to react to the criticism,” Afridi told The Express Tribune. All I expect is support for my team which is going through a tough phase with the World Cup not very far away.The former cricketers are well aware of the current crisis in the team and should avoid comments that would leave a negative impact before the tournament.Afridi said that times had changed and with the team facing various issues, the attack was uncalled for.It is not the same time as it was when Imran Khan and Javed Miandad were playing. The situation now is totally different.“Some [ex-cricketers] just wait for a bad performance to launch an attack on the team or on certain players. It happens. The same people praise you when the team does well.”Afridi optimistic on best squad for World CupThe captain, however, was confident of forming the best line-up for the World Cup in which Pakistan may miss the experienced trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. The three players will appear in the International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing on the spot-fixing case later this week.

“There is no doubt we are missing the three players but we still have good players who will form the team for the World Cup.”

Afridi, who was also criticised for team selection in the Twenty20s against New Zealand, said he tried different combinations keeping the World Cup in mind.“Many of our World Cup probables were tested in the T20s because we want to give them maximum appearances.“The clear picture for our World Cup line-up will come after the ODI series against New Zealand which is very important for us.”Pakistan, following the two Test matches against New Zealand, will play a six-match ODI series that would be the team’s last assignment before the World Cup starts on February 19.Afridi to give inputShahid Afridi will meet the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt in Lahore today where his input on the World Cup squad will be taken into account.According to a PCB official, Butt will discuss team selection with the captain before giving a go-ahead for the 30-man squad finalised by the selection committee.“The PCB chairman wants input from Afridi on team selection while performance in the T20 series will also be discussed in the meeting,” said the official.The World Cup preliminary squad is expected to be announced tomorrow, a day before the deadline which the ICC extended following a request by the PCB.

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LAHORE: Out-of-favour wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal breathed a sigh of relief as he was included in Pakistan’s 30-man squad for the World Cup.

Mohammad Yousuf, who retired earlier this year only to make his comeback in the summer, was also included in the squad while former captain Shoaib Malik and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria were left out. Akmal was one of three players awaiting clearance by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) but remained confident of being included in the squad that takes part in the tournament. “I’m a true country man,” Akmal told The Express Tribune. “This is what I’ve been trying to prove and I knew I’ll return because I was determined.”
The PCB had delayed naming the squad due to the clearance issue before the International Cricket Council (ICC) extended the deadline to January 5. The board’s Integrity Committee sat through a series of meetings to discuss the three players’ issue who were reportedly under the ICC’s scanner.
“There’s a lot of speculation regarding the clearance of the players,” said the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt. “The Integrity Committee gave its views on some players to the selection committee which was taken into consideration before the 30 players were selected for the World Cup.”
Chief selector Mohsin Khan, meanwhile, requested the nation to back the selected players who needed encouragement to win the World Cup.
“We’re satisfied with the squad and confident that we’ve selected the best squad from among the players available,” said Mohsin. “The selection committee met on multiple occasions before finalising the preliminary squad.”
Yousuf included
Apart from Akmal, Yousuf was also recalled after being left out of the New Zealand tour because of fitness problems. Another notable inclusion was of all-rounder Rana Navedul Hasan who makes it to his national squad for the first time after getting his year-long ban overturned.
Akmal has missed action since the England tour, which was marred by spot-fixing allegations. The 28-year-old wicket-keeper was left out for the South Africa series in the UAE and was later overlooked from the Twenty20 and Test squad for the New Zealand tour despite recovering from an appendix operation.
On the other hand, Malik has been out of favour since the Twenty20 series against Australia in England and played in the second Test against Australia following Afridi’s retirement at Lord’s. Akmal, Malik and Kaneria had appeared before the PCB’s Integrity Committee and submitted details of their assets and accounts last week.
Kamran Akmal
“This is what I’ve been trying to prove and I knew I’ll return because I was determined. Despite being heavily criticised throughout my bad patch, I was motivated to make a return.”
Nasir Jamshed
“I never gave up the idea of making a return to the Pakistan team. In the past, I was left out due to constant injuries. However, now I’m ready to serve my country again.”
Squad
Shahid Afridi, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan, Misbahul Haq, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Naved Yasin, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Salman Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Rana Navedul Hasan, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Tanvir Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Asad Ali.

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Afridi to testify at ICC hearing

KARACHI: Pakistan's limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi will testify at a hearing of players suspended for alleged spot-fixing despite believing he has nothing to add to his earlier testimony, a report said Monday.

Afridi has been summoned to appear before the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption tribunal for a hearing of charges against Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, in Doha from January 6-11.

Salman, Asif and Aamer were suspended over claims of spot-fixing during Pakistan's Lord's Test against England in August and face severe punishment, including lengthy bans.

Both Afridi, along with team coach Waqar Younis and security manager Khawaja Najam, who will also attend the Doha hearing -- made statements to the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit last month.

According to Pakistani media, these statements link the suspended players to alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed and allege that large sums of money were confiscated from the players' hotel rooms.

Afridi reportedly said he had not lied to the ICC, and had given a full account of what he had witnessed during the team's tour of England.

"I have already said what I had to say and what I saw," Afridi was quoted as saying by Pakistani daily Jang on Monday. "I could not have lied before the ICC because they already had enough information about the case."

Afridi said he would participate in the hearing by teleconference and not attend in person because of family problems. Waqar is expected to participate by telephone as he is on tour with the Pakistan team in New Zealand.

The ICC tribunal, headed by Michael Beloff QC, is likely to use Afridi, Waqar and Najam as witnesses in the light of their statements last month.

Afridi said he had no animosity towards any player.

"I have a clean conscience... I was asked about Majeed (the alleged bookmaker) and his brother Azhar (Majeed) so whatever I knew I told the ICC," said Afridi.

Pakistan's tour of England last June to September was hit by a sting operation arranged by British tabloid News of the World, which claimed that several players took money from a bookmaker to perform specific acts during the Lord's Test, such as bowling a no-ball.

Scotland Yard then raided the Pakistani team's hotel and reportedly confiscated money from players' rooms and later interrogated Salman, Asif, Aamer and a fourth player, Wahab Riaz, who was not suspended.

The ICC provisionally suspended the three players on September 3.

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New Zealand XI tighten screws on Pakistan

AUCKLAND: The New Zealand XI continued to keep the pressure on Pakistan in a warm-up match before the first Test, reducing the tourists to 234-8 at the close of the second day.

With both sides fielding near Test-strength sides, Pakistan trail New Zealand by 150 with two wickets in hand and one day remaining.

New Zealand were dismissed early in the day for 384 built on the back of a pugnacious 206 by Brendon McCullum and then Chris Martin swiftly removed the Pakistan top order.

Martin dismissed Mohammad Hafeez, Taufeeq Umar and Younis Khan to have Pakistan at 22-3 before Misbah-ul-Haq led the fightback.

Misbah was unbeaten on 99 at the close of play, with Martin on three for 52 and Daniel Vettori three for 26.

The match ends Tuesday and the the first Test starts in Hamilton on Thursday

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Pakistan crush sorry New Zealand

Pakistan cruised to a 103-run win over New Zealand in the third and final Twenty20 international at Christchurch.Having already lost the three-match series after defeat in the opening two games, Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad's 54 off 34 balls helped his side reach 183 for six as they sought to salvage some pride.

Abdul Razzaq, who hit a superb 34-run cameo, then took figures of three for 13 and
skipper Shahid Afridi picked up four for 14 as Pakistan bowled out their opponents for just 80 to record their biggest victory in T20 cricket.

New Zealand were never in with a shout of getting the required runs, with their top four batsmen all dismissed for ducks.

After winning the toss, dismissed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez (34) shared an explosive 81-run opening stand that was finally broken by James Franklin, with Hafeez caught at extra cover.

Shehzad brought up his maiden T20 fifty in 41 deliveries, but was trapped lbw in the 11th over by Franklin when going for consecutive boundaries.

New Zealand managed to stem the flow of runs in the middle overs, and also picked up the wickets of Younis Khan (five), run out by Nathan McCullum, and Asad Shafiq (eight), caught at long-off.

But with Afridi out for just 14, Umar Akmal provided stiff resistance in the final overs with his 30, while Razzaq smashed three boundaries and three sixes in the final two overs for his unbeaten 11-ball innings.

In sharp contrast, the hosts lost their top five batsmen with just 11 runs on the board.

Martin Guptil, Jesse Ryder, Dean Brownlie and Ross Taylor departed in the space of just 13 deliveries without troubling the scorers, with Razzaq and debutant Tanvir Ahmed doing the damage around Brownlie's run out.

Following Razzaq's third scalp - Franklin bowled for three - Scott Styris led the fight back with some quick boundaries, but spinner Abdur Rehman bowled Peter McGlashan to leave the Black Caps reeling at 36 for six.

Afridi got rid of McCullum, trapped lbw for eight, before clean bowling both danger-man Styris for 45 and Tim Southee (nought) in successive deliveries.

And the Pakistan captain wrapped up proceedings in the same fashion, bowling Kyle Mills for seven, as victory came with just over four overs remaining.

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Afridi hails 'matchwinner' Razzaq

Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi did not hold back in his praise for "matchwinner" Abdul Razzaq.

Pakistan on Thursday, cruised to victory in the third and final Twenty20 international against New Zealand at Christchurch.
Despite having lost the three-match series 2-0 on Tuesday, the visitors put in a solid performance with both bat and ball, with Razzaq providing a 34-run cameo to set the Black Caps a target of 184.
And the paceman blew away the hosts' top order with figures of three for 13, as New Zealand were skittled out for just 80, giving Pakistan their biggest-ever win in T20 cricket.
Afridi himself claimed four scalps during the second-inning wicket frenzy, but insisted Razzaq was the architect of their morale-boosting win.
"He's a matchwinner, I've always seen him as one," Afridi said. "In the past there have been some games where victory looked unlikely, but he was able to see us through."
Pakistan have endured a tumultuous 12 months both on and off the field but Afridi maintained the win was good way forward for the country's cricketing future.
He said: "All the boys need is confidence and this game today shows what Pakistan is about and what talent we have.
"Yes we lost the series but today's win was good in order to keep our morale high."
New Zealand will go into next week's Test series on a relatively high note as well, given that they ended their 12-match losing streak in the shorter format with victory in the first T20 of this series at Auckland.
But captain Ross Taylor was still left to contend with today's below-par batting performance that saw the Black Caps lose their top four batsmen for ducks.
"Pakistan batted very well, put a very good total on the board," he said.
"But when your top four batsmen get out for nothing, it's a pretty bad taste."
When asked if the hosts had become complacent after achieving the series win in the second clash at Hamilton, Taylor added: "No. We wanted to go out and win the series 3-0 after what's happened over the last few months but Pakistan bowled really well too.
"We were looking forward to a good start given how they started, but the way Razzaq and Afridi bowled it was just outstanding."

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PCB delays announcement of ODI squad

PCB has delayed the decision on granting clearance to some senior players for the ODI series against New Zealand.

Only after the committee's clearance Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria and Yasir Hameed could be considered for selection in Pakistan's World Cup Preliminary squad and ODI series in New Zealand.

The committee met in Lahore on Thursday and interviewed former captain Malik, wicketkeeper Akmal, leg-spinner Kaneria and Hameed in a marathon session but no details were released by the Board on the outcome of the meeting.

"The integrity committee not only questioned the players but also went through the documents about their assets submitted to the Board.

"Apparently some documentation issues with the players still remain but the committee is likely to give a decision particularly on Malik and Akmal soon," the source said.

The national selectors are scheduled to meet today to finalise the one-day squad for New Zealand and the World Cup preliminary list of 30 players.

The International Cricket Council has already given the PCB an extended deadline of up to January 5, 2011 to submit the preliminary squad.

The committee had asked for some documents from the senior players after suspicions were raised about the sources of their income and assets following the spot-fixing scandal.

"No details are available on what exactly happened at the meeting but apparently all the players were given a thorough grilling by the committee members and the PCB Chairman about how they had acquired their assets and their sources of income.

"Retired Justice Jamshed Shah who is a member of the committee also questioned the players in legal terms," the source said.

The source said Kaneria was being investigated by the committee over his questioning in England by the Essex police while he was playing county cricket for Essex .

Kaneria and another Essex player Mervyn Westfield were investigated by the police after claims surfaced that they were involved in spot-fixing during a Pro-40 match while playing for the county against Durham in September, 2009.
Yasir Hameed apologises to PCB for his interview
Test discard Yasir Hameed has apologised to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for being involved in an interview, in which he was shown talking about spot-fixing and match-fixing.

The interview by 'News of the World' had added fuel to the fire as just before Hameed's interview, a sting operation by the same British tabloid had led to suspension of Pakistani trio of Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammad Aamer on suspicion of spot-fixing.

Hameed met PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt and members of the integrity committee on Thursday in Lahore and insisted that even though the undercover reporter kept on pestering him with questions about match-fixing, he hardly said anything.

Hameed said he was wrong to meet the reporter without permission of the team management but still maintains that he had no idea that the newsman was taping the 'general' conversation he was having with him.

"Yasir has submitted an unconditional apology to the Board Chairman and requested him for pardon. The batsman has said that he wants to be considered for national selection again," a reliable source told PTI.

Hameed, who has played 25 Tests and 56 One-day internationals, was dropped from the ODI series after his interview appeared during the team's tour.

"Yasir has pleaded that the undercover reporter of the NOW posed himself as a businessman interested in signing a endorsement deal with the Pakistani players.

"Yasir said he mostly mumbled and nodded his head when asked if so-and-so match was fixed. He has said that he was just taking part in general discussion and didn't know he was being taped," the source said.

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'Impossible to eradicate spot-fixing'

PCB chief Ijaz Butt believes that it is impossible to completely eradicate spot-fixing.

"To control the spot-fixing, especially prior to its happening, is almost impossible not only for the PCB but for the ICC as well," said Butt in an interview to News One channel on Thursday.

"It has to be an all out effort from all concerned to ensure that such wrongdoing does not occur in the future," the PCB chairman added.

On the measures taken by the PCB to eradicate corruption from the game, butt, without elaborating, vowed to come down even harder on the culprits in the future.

"PCB and ICC have taken a lot of steps, future plans have been drafted to pursues a policy of zero tolerance to corruption," Butt maintained.

The spot-fixing scandal had rocked world cricket after a British tabloid revealed that a bookmaker Mazhar Majeed had bribed three Pakistani players -- Test skipper Salman Butt, pace duo Muhammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif to deliberately bowl no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's.

The ICC quickly sprang into action and provisionally suspended the trio in early September. Their hearing is due next month in Doha.
Butt''s lawyer reaches Lahore for spot-fixing hearing

Suspended Test captain Salman Butt's lawyer has reached Lahore from London in relation to the charges of spot-fixing which are to be heard against the Pakistani player in Doha next month by the International Cricket Council anti-corruption tribunal.

Yasin Patel, a barrister of Indian origin based in the United Kingdom, is now representing Butt in the spot-fixing allegations case after the Pakistani player changed atleast three lawyers in the past few months.

Patel said from Lahore he couldn't discuss anything about the case because of its confidential nature but confirmed he was in town with relation to the case.

"Patel is scheduled to also meet with the Pakistan Cricket Board's legal advisor, Tafazzul Rizvi in Lahore," one source said.

Patel has been hired by Butt after being represented by lawyers, Aftab Gul, Khalid Ranjha and Aitzaz Ahsan and associates in the past few months.

Gul and Ranjha had represented him in the ICC tribunal hearing in Dubai in November which heard Butt's appeal against his provisional suspension by the ICC and rejected it.

One source said that Patel was also in Lahore to talk to the PCB about their decision to suspend Butt's contract and withhold payment of nearly 8.5 million rupees which is outstanding tour fees, bonuses and match fees for this year.

Butt, along with Muhammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif were provisionally suspended by the ICC in early September after a 'News Of The World' revelation that Mazhar Majeed had bribed them to deliberately bowl no-balls during the fourth Test against England at Lord's.

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